Driving and The Cabbage Test!!

The time had come. With driving lessons completed and the driver’s test passed, our oldest, at 16 years of age, was now a licensed driver.  He had learned from the best in Canada, Young Drivers of Canada, and was now ready to take to the road in the professional manner in which he was taught. His road skill and knowledge would now be implemented in this next and final chapter: my ultimate cabbage test.  He needed to keep up the momentum of this newly acquired life skill by going out by himself for the very first time, immediately. ...

That first time alone in the car is a pivotal moment in our lives, somewhat euphoric for some.  It was critical that our son’s solitary trip take him through a series of road challenges while fully understanding the scope and magnitude of this awesome power that had just been granted by the government of Ontario and his parents!! ...  

This new piece of movable machinery called a car was now in his power. It could be a mode of transportation or a weapon. To send him on his way for that very first time was an important step for him and his parents. Where could we send him? What would be the proof?  I thought for a moment then decided - the grocery store, the farthest one from our house- would be his destination for that first taste of freedom as a licensed driver. What could he buy?  A small cabbage, of course.  A receipt from the store would be the proof he had purchased from that location, on that date and had followed a particular driving course, challenging him in his status as a new driver. He would buy me the cabbage - a small one- something rarely available when I needed it. ...(Small ones were perfect for cabbage rolls.)

On this first solo trip to the grocery store, our son would encounter merging lanes, intersections, some with lights, some without and stop signs. Right turns, left turns and parking were all a part of his  planned ‘flight path’. This solo test drive would give him a big boost of confidence for that first-time experience behind the wheel.  In the process, I would get that much coveted small green cabbage so desired when wanting to make cabbage rolls. (If he arrived home with a large cabbage, soup and coleslaw would be on the menu.)

The cabbage test became the final step in license acquisition, an expected rite of passage for each of our sons. They would remember the test mom devised to add a dimension to their first drive alone-no one on board- experience. ... They were privileged to be driving. ... Aren’t we all?  Their solitary drive that first time was always a resounding success when a small cabbage came home with them. It was a creative, comical approach to test their newly acquired life skill that first time out alone, after passing the driver’s test. I would benefit, too. Why not, I thought? ...  They were going to the grocery store, anyway and I wanted a cabbage.